The thrilling second round of the U18 Schools Cup took place this week and there are now just 34 schools left in the competition.

There is a fair break now until the last 32 round, which is effectively the regional quarter final stage, with just two late last 64 games to take place, Maidstone Grammar v Judd in London & South East B on Wednesday 18^th October and RGS High Wycombe v Sir Thomas Rich’s in South West A on Wednesday 1^st November.

U18 Schools Cup Round 2:

North A

A big win for Merchant Taylors’ over Sir John Deane’s sets them up for a regional semi against King’s Macclesfield, who just about held off a late Calday Grange Grammar fightback to win 26-17. Manchester Grammar won an absolute thriller against Wilmslow High School, who always seem to go far, 20-19, and will travel to Stonyhurst College in the next round after Stonyhurst won an equally thrilling game against Stockport Grammar, 34-22.

King’s Macclesfield 26-17 Calday Grange

Manchester GS 20-19 Wilmslow HS

Merchant Taylors’ 45-3 Sir John Dean’s

Stockport GS 22-34 Stonyhurst College

North B

Barnard Castle received a late walkover again Carmel College in North B, and will head to RGS Newcastle in a real historical Schools Cup classic next round after the former champions beat Durham 13-6. QEGS Wakefield, another legendary school of the cup in this tough section, received a walkover against Hartlepool 6^th form College and will face St Peter’s York, who beat them last weekend, after they saw off Hymers College 40-14. These could arguably be two of the toughest regional semi finals of all.

Barnard Castle w/o Carmel College

Hymers College 14-40 St Peter’s York

QEGS Wakefield w/o Hartlepool 6th form College

RGS Newcastle 13-6 Durham

Midlands A

A thriller between Northampton School for Boys and Bloxham went the way of the Northampton men, 49-29, setting up a game at St Joseph’s College for them next round after they narrowly beat Norwich 21-20. With Northampton having blown away St Jo’s a couple of weeks ago, could this be a revenge mission, or a sign that Northampton should win? Oundle meanwhile beat Royal Hospital School 19-15 setting up a regional semi final against the outstanding Stamford, who had a bye.

Bloxham 29-49 Northampton School for Boys

Norwich 20-21 St Joseph’s College

Oundle 19-15 Royal Hospital School

Midlands B

Champions Warwick were in good order for a 38-7 win at Sandbach, they face a well rested Newcastle-Under-Lyme next time out after their second round bye. Solihull at one stage thought they had a bye but a late drafting of Rugby School game them a tricky fixture but one that they overcame well, 30-19, setting up a regional semi against KES Five Ways, who did have a bye.

Sandbach 7-38 Warwick

Solihull 30-19 Rugby

London & South East A

London & South East A is surely one of the toughest sections of all. Two unbeaten sides, Campion and Felsted, went head to head, with last year’s semi finalists, Felsted, heading home with the spoils, 27-10. They will host the 2010 and 2011 champions, and one of this year’s favourites, Whitgift, who beat KCS Wimbledon by an impressive 53-11 margin. Wimbledon College meanwhile beat Emanuel 28-3 to set up a tie away at Hampton, who were scoring tries for fun in their 42-15 defeat of Tiffin.

Campion 10-27 Felsted

Emanuel 3-28 Wimbledon College

Hampton 42-15 Tiffin

KCS Wimbledon 11-53 Whitgift

London & South East

It will take until Wednesday evening next week to know the full London & South East B semi final line-up, that is when Maidstone Grammar host Judd. What is known is that the winner of that game will be hosting Eltham College, who were on fine form for a 32-10 win over Skinners’. In the other regional semi John Fisher, who beat George Abbot 22-7, will travel to Churcher’s College, who recorded a superb 25-0 win at Worthing College.

George Abbot 7-22 John Fisher

Maidstone Grammar v Judd – Wednesday 18^th October

Skinners’ 10-32 Eltham College

Worthing College 0-25 Churcher’s College

South West A

There was just the one game this week in South West A, with Portsmouth Grammar and Dean Close both having byes and the RGS High Wycombe v Sir Thomas Rich’s game being delayed until the 1^st November. The winner of that game will be hosting Dean Close, who are in cracking form themselves. The game that was on was a real heavyweight clash as Abingdon hosted last year’s finalists, Bishop Wordsworth’s. Bishop Wordsowrth’s turned in one of their best performances of the season for a 24-10 win and will travel to Portsmouth Grammar for the regional semi.

Abingdon 10-24 Bishop Wordsworth’s

RGS High Wycombe v Sir Thomas Rich’s – Wednesday 1^st November

South West B

Like South West A, South West B was a little thin on fixtures, with just two. Canford and Colston’s had byes and will meet each other in the next round. The other regional semi final will see Ivybridge Community College host Exeter School. Ivybridge won a really tight game against Truro School, who always seem to do well, 15-6, while Exeter School beat King’s College Taunton 27-19.

Exeter 27-19 King’s College, Taunton

Truro 6-15 Ivybridge CC

It has been an exciting round, and with the number of schools left, things are only going to get more exciting as the competition gets ever more competitive and Twickenham begins to loom on the horizon.

The regional semi finals are scheduled to take place on the week commencing on the 6^th November, with the regional finals set for the week commencing on the 20^th November. From those games we will have our eight quarter finalists, who will all be put into a national pot, meaning the potential for some very long away trips for some sides. Those national quarter finals will mainly take place on the week of the 4^th December, with only the semi finals and final after Christmas.